Blues defender Bruce opts for green shirt of Ireland

Alex Bruce, the son of the Birmingham City manager Steve, has been included in the Republic of Ireland's 18-strong Under-21 squad for a friendly with Sweden in Drogheda on Tuesday. After spurning the overtures of Northern Ireland on three occasions, the 21-year-old centre-back has opted for the Republic.

"He was fortunate that both respective countries wanted him, and he has decided to choose the Republic," said Steve Bruce. "I think the opportunity to gain international recognition appeals to Alex and I am happy to support him in that. With his grandparents being Irish he thought, why not? But it's genuine. Both sides of our family are Irish."

The Republic's Under-21 manager Don Givens learned of Bruce's lineage only this year when he sat beside his father at a reserve game. "Steve informed me his mother was Irish, which I was unaware of," said Givens. "All of a sudden I started looking at the boy a bit differently, and I have kept an eye on him since."

After loan spells with Oldham Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere Rovers in his 2½ years at Birmingham, Bruce is finally breaking through with the Blues, with seven appearances since the turn of the year.

"I can imagine it's difficult trying to follow your dad, especially being at the same club," added Givens. "But he is a good player and he is versatile, as he is comfortable playing at right-back or centre-half, which is an advantage.

"He is still developing and let's hope he can be good for us. I'm certainly delighted he has joined us. As to why us over Northern Ireland, I'm guessing he looked at the situation and felt our prospects are better."

Playing for the Republic is an opportunity Bruce senior missed out on 12 years ago because of Uefa rules, at a time when Jack Charlton was in charge.

"With my mother being Irish it was a close call," said Steve Bruce. "I nearly went, but I decided against it as we were going to be hindered as a club at Manchester United with the five-foreigners rule."

The Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, meanwhile, has named a strong 22-man squad for the senior international against the Republic at Lansdowne Road next Wednesday. With Sweden drawn to face England in the group stages of this summer's World Cup in Germany, the game gives Lagerback the ideal opportunity to face Premiership opposition akin to Sven-Goran Eriksson's team.

There are also a host of Swedish players who have played in the Premiership, including Marcus Allback, Niclas Alexandersson, Anders Svensson, Teddy Lucic and Erik Edman as well as the former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, now with Barcelona. PA